Thread: Gov. Cuomo pulls New York out of Secure Communities

Gov. Cuomo pulls New York out of federal Secure Communities immigration fingerprinting program

BY Kenneth Lovett and Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Wednesday, June 1st 2011, 6:14 PM

New York State is suspending its participation in the controversial Secure Communities program that shared the fingerprints of anyone arrested with immigration officials.

Gov. Cuomo made the announcement Wednesday, saying there's mounting evidence the program, rolled out just five months ago, isn't working.

"There are concerns about the implementation of the program as well as its impact on families, immigrant communities and law enforcement in New York," Cuomo said.

States in the program automatically send the fingerprints of everyone booked to Homeland Security. Federal officials say it helps locate and deport dangerous criminals.

But critics charged the program results in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants before they are even charged with a serious crime - much less convicted.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was the first governor to pull out of the program.

New York followed suit just days after federal officials admitted that they made bogus promises to recruit the state.
New York officials were initially told individual counties could opt out of the controversial program - but statewide participation is actually mandatory.

Twenty-four counties were participating before the suspension, though New York City's five boroughs were slated to start at a later date.

The governor's decision was quickly hailed by opponents of Secure Communities.

"Governor Cuomo is right to suspend implementation of the deeply flawed Secure Communities program which does nothing to make anyone any safer," said Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.

NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman agreed: "Gov. Cuomo has sent a clear message that New York State respects the values of freedom, justice and human dignity."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/201 ... erpri.html

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But critics charged the program results in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants before they are even charged with a serious crime - much less convicted.

It's a SERIOUS crime against United States LEGAL citizens since illegals are going undetected and deported, while ANY one of them can be a terrorist!!!!

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was the first governor to pull out of the program.

I wonder how many New Yorkers are going to be happy with this??

"Governor Cuomo is right to suspend implementation of the deeply flawed Secure Communities program which does nothing to make anyone any safer," said Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.

Well, let me tell YOU something "Hector Figueroa", the only thing "flawed" is your piss poor excuses to allow your precious invaders to rape our tax payers!!

NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman agreed: "Gov. Cuomo has sent a clear message that New York State respects the values of freedom, justice and human dignity."

Let me make this CLEAR to you Donna, Justice and freedom come to those who applied for citizenship on THEIR side of the border, so don't give me your twisted "values" version!

In the past the Feds have said that anyone who doesn't run their fingerprints through the I.C.E. fingerprint database won't be allowed to run fingerprints through the F.B.I. fingerprint database.
Now we will see if they really mean that.

But critics charged the program results in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants before they are even charged with a serious crime - much less convicted.

They can't point to one instance of this occurring. If they had one, you can be sure, they would have stated it. It's getting pretty bad when they are not against finding and/or deporting criminal illegals. It's beyond belief what politicians will sacrifice and risk just to try and maintain a powerbase.

Mark Steyn talked about a man in rural Missouri being fined $90,000, by the feds, for selling rabbits without a license, which he made about 200 bucks. Contrast this with illegal aliens overrunning the country with no "license". Americans live in semi-soft tyranny while flagrant lawbreakers are cheered by the pitiful excuse for leaders.

In the 50's, 1-20 activities required a license. Now it's 1-3. And THIS is the land of the FREE, unless you are ignorant of license requirements for selling rabbits.

I don't see anything wrong with deporting illegals. Why is there a problem deporting illegals before they are convicted of a crime. If they are illegal, they are illegal. Deport them. What is the problem?

Originally Posted by redpony353

I don't see anything wrong with deporting illegals. Why is there a problem deporting illegals before they are convicted of a crime. If they are illegal, they are illegal. Deport them. What is the problem?

Sorry, redpony, when faced with common-sense answers, liberals tend to get extremely confused.

JUNE 2, 2011.

Immigration Backers Cheer Cuomo Action

By SUMATHI REDDY

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has suspended the state's participation in a federal immigration program that ensnares illegal immigrants, heeding the call from a growing chorus of immigration advocates and state and city lawmakers who oppose it.

Called Secure Communities, the program aims to identify and deport illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. Critics say it has resulted in the deportation of thousands of people who have no criminal record. They say the program has undermined trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.

"There are concerns about the implementation of the program as well as its impact on families, immigrant communities and law enforcement in New York," Mr. Cuomo said in an emailed statement.

Under the program, operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in partnership with local authorities, the fingerprints of people booked into local jails are transmitted to a database reviewed by immigration officials.

Secure Communities began in 2008, when President George W. Bush was in office, and the Obama administration has made it central to immigration enforcement. ICE, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, has stated that the national goal is to have it in place in every U.S. jurisdiction by 2013.

Supporters of Secure Communities say it is a deterrent to crime and boosts public safety.

In a statement, ICE defended the program, calling it a "critical…information sharing partnership" between ICE and the FBI, and stressing that only the federal government—not local authorities—determines whether immigration enforcement is necessary.

"Secure Communities imposes no new or additional requirements on state and local law enforcement," the statement said.

"Only federal officers make immigration decisions, and they do so only after an individual is arrested for a criminal violation of state law, separate and apart from any violations of immigration law," the statement added.

In a letter to the homeland security department, Mr. Cuomo said the program appeared to have the opposite of its intended effect of targeting individuals who are a threat to the community by "deterring witnesses to crime and others from working with law enforcement."

The program was rolled out in select New York communities this year. With the governor's announcement, Secure Communities will come to a halt even in areas that opted to have it, pending a review of the "mounting evidence that the program is not meeting its stated goal."

In New York, more than 30 counties have it in place, including Suffolk, Westchester, Nassau and Rockland. New York City, where opposition among lawmakers and advocates was especially fierce, did not participate.

A news release from Mr. Cuomo's office included statements of support from a wide cross section of individuals. But not everyone was happy to hear of its suspension.

Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco was surprised and disappointed to hear the news.

"I think it's a shame, it takes away a very useful tool for us," he said. "Secure Communities was definitely a very effective tool for local enforcement. It's no secret that we have an overcrowded jail and 10 to 12% of our population are illegal aliens, so we're looking for anything that will help us get them out of our custody quickly."

Mr. Cuomo's announcement follows a growing national backlash against the program that has prompted the ICE's inspector general to investigative whether the program is meeting its goals.

Last month, Illinois quit Secure Communities. Other states, such as Washington and Minnesota, have declined to join so far.

New York lawmakers and advocates who were lobbying Mr. Cuomo to rescind the state's deal with immigration officials were pleased to hear the news.

"We're thrilled," said Andrew Friedman, an executive director of Make the Road New York, an immigrant advocacy group. "We think the Secure Communities program is terribly misguided."

City Council Member Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights and heads the committee on immigration, said he was one of 38 lawmakers who signed a letter to Mr. Cuomo urging him to quit the program.

"I have people in my district who were afraid to jay walk because they were afraid of being picked up and having their fingerprints sent to the federal government and being deported for a minor infraction," he said.

—Miriam Jordan contributed to this article.
Write to Sumathi Reddy at sumathi.reddy@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 44504.html

NYC has allowed so many IAs to settle here that if they were forced to leave in a small time period of time many neighborhoods would become ghost towns. The entire real-estate industry is dependent on their presence. Take away that demand or housing and the costs to buy houses and/or rent apartments would have to be cut in half if not more.

I'm sure such a transition would be very hard on the city BUT in two or three years the real value of real estate would be reached and the city would recover. Young Americans would again be able to afford to move out of their parents homes into starter apartments they could afford.

In a nutshell, every one who invested in "IA Sanctuary" would lose a ton on money but screw them for betting on invaders!